Elevator for invalids



Nov. 25, 1952 G, p, SCOTT 2,619,196

ELEVATOR FCRINVALIDS Filed Sept. 16, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Ii n ,67Bnnentor I |:lll l Geo/ye f 500 2 ll I W V W attorneg s Patented Nov.25, 1952 ELEVATOR FOR INVALIDS George P. Scott, Kansas City, Mo.,assignor to- Electra Lift Chair. Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation of MisSQuri ppli a i n ptem e 16, 9 8 S r a NQ- 4 467 1 Thisnv nt on re t to an el va r f a yhis invalids. lder y and n apa a ons upand down strairs and has for its principal object to provide a device ofthis character that is of simple and inexpensive construction and whichreadily installed on conventional Stairways. Qther objects of theinvention are to provide a track and a car movable thereon by means of acable; to, provide a safe and positive brake mecha ism r t p mo m heriage in case of failure of; the cable or lessening ofthe tensionthereon; to provide for electrical operation of the carriage in a mannerwhich eliminates trolley wires and other exposed electrical connections;to provide a structure whereby movement of the carriage is under controlof the occupant, seated thereon; and to provide a carriage in the formof a seat to facilitate mounting by the individual or incapacitatedperson.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I- haveprovided improved structure,

the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a stairway equipped with anelevator constructed in accordance with the present invention, a portionof the track and side of the carriage being broken away to betterillustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the carriage with a part or thefront wall broken away to illustrate the motor winding drum and speedreduction gearing.

Fig. 3 is a positive view of the track and carriage particularlyillustrating the limit switches and their actuating cams.

Fig. 4 is a positive view showing adjustment of the. carriage relativelyto the angle of inclination of the track so as to position the seatsubstantially horizontal.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary positive view, particularly illustrating thebrake mechanism.

(i is a similar View showing the brake mechanism seat responsive tofailure of the control cable.

Fig, 7 is a wiring diagram of the electrical cir- Quits.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

ldesignates a stairway comprising a series of steps composed ofconventional treads and risers 2' and 3 and whereon a person may climbfrom a lower floor to an upper landing 4. In the illustrated instancethe steps are. closed at the ends by a stringer 5.. Supported on thenosings 6 of the respective treads adjacent the stringer 5 is a track 1comprising spaced rails 8 and 9. The

12 Claims. (CL 187-514) railspreferably comprise channel-shaped membershaving vertically arranged webs H and upper and lower flanges l2 and I3facing inwardly as shown in Fig. 3. The rails are of sufiicient lengthto extend from the lower floor to a point above the seat level and areinterconnected at intervals along their length by cross ties I!)attached to the lower flanges #2 of the respective rails. The upper endsof the rails are connected by a housing it which encloses a springactuated reei l5 adapted to wind and unwind an electrical conductorcable It that supplies current. to the actuating motor as laterdescribed. The rail 8 preferably has the web thereof secured to thestring-er 5 by fastening devices such as screws [1 (Fig. 1) whereby thetrack is maintained in stable position and at one side of the stairs sothat the opposite side may be used in conventional manner.

' Movably mounted on the track and adapted to move the length thereof isa carriage it which includes a platform-like seat l9 that is carried onsubstantially horizontal rails 2t. The seat supporting rails 20 haverelatively short downwardly projecting legs 2| and 22 at their rear endsand substantially longer vertical legs 23 and 2-4 at their forward ends.The shorter legs 2 and 22 carry a transverse axle 25 that extendsbetween the track rails and which is provided on the ends thereof withrollers 25 and Z1. adapted to roll on the lower flanges of the rails andrein t ere n by the p e fla es as best shown in Fig. 5 Connected withthe vertical legs 23 and 24 are leg extensions 28 and 29 which arepreferably formed of angles and have their flanges fitting Within theangle formed by the flanges of the upper legs, the flanges, of the legsbeing provided with slots 30 and 3| to pass fastenng devices uc as s ws32 and 33 wh reby th t qns. ma be. a j ste to m n a n. th s *9 in bstanta l horizon a DOsitiQn hen the rails are appliedfto stairs oi difierentin,- clination. T

The sides of the carriage are closed by sub.- stantiallytrianguiar-shaped plates, 3.4 and 3;5fand th r nt is l sed b a p e, ichxt n s m. he sea to the bot oi the g 2 a i 2-4. The plates thus,cooperate with the legs and frame or: the seat to provide a rigidstructure and to form an enclosure for mounting the motor duct on se rin38 and windin dra n" 39 as later esc b d e owe end oi the lee exension ae co ne ted by a g 1! whic ha rollers 4i and 42 mounted on the endsthereof to operate between the flanges of the rails in the same manneras the rollers 26 and 21. Fixed to and extending between the front andrear legs is a base plate 43 having a downset portion 44 to which themotor 31 is secured by suitable fastening devices, such as bolts 45. Thebase plate also includes an upper portion 46 on which the speedreduction gear unit 38 is similarly attached by bolts 48 (Fig. 1), thearmature shaft of the motor being connected with the driving shaft ofthe reduction gearing by a flexible coupling 49. The outer end of thedrum shaft is preferably supported by a bearing block 39' that isattached to the base plate 43.

The power delivery shaft 50 of the reduction gearing projects laterallyand mounts the winding drum 39 as shown in Fig. 2. Fixed to the upperend of the track, for example, to a cross member of the housing I4 isthe end of a cable that is of suflicient length to extend along to thelower end of the track and connect with the winding drum 39, theconnection preferably being made by extending the end of the cablethrough a side flange 52 of the winding drum and securing it onto theouter side thereof by a clamping washer 53 attached by a fasteningdevice 54 as best shown in Fig. 2.

An operating current is supplied to the motor 31 through the flexiblecable |6 that is connected with the reel I5. The reel 15 is simply totake up the conductor as the carriage moves up the stairs and may be ofany conventional construction. The cable contains conductors 55 and 55'which connect with a controller switch 56 that in turn is connected withthe terminals 51,

58 and 59 of the reversible motor through oonductors 60, 6| and 62.

In order to limit movement of the carriage at the upper and lower limitsof the track, the rail I0 is provided with cams 63 and 64 that projeotinto the path of rollers 65 and 66 carried on crank arms 61 and 68 ofswitches 68 and 10. The switches 69 and 18 may be mounted on the innerside plate of the carriage as shown in Fig. 3 so that the rollers 65 and66 are in position to engage the respective earns 63 and 64. Theswitches 69 and are respectively connected in circuit with theconductors 60 and 62 so as to open circuit to the motor when thecarriage reaches the upper and lower ends of the track as laterdescribed.

With the structure thus far described, it is obvious that failure of thelifting cable or reel drive might be a hazard and to avoid a possibilitythat would result in too rapid a descent of the carriage, the carriageis provided with a brake mechanism which comprises a transverse shaft 12journalled in suitable bearings 13 and 14 that are mounted on the frontlegs 2| and 22 as shown in Fig. 5. Fixed to the ends of the shaft 12 areeccentric wheels or cams and 16 havin roughened or knurled peripheries11 adapted to frictionally engage the upper flanges of the track railswhen the shaft is moved in a clockwise direction to effect gripping ofthe rails and stop descent of the carriage. The brake wheels or cams areordinarily retained out of engagement with the flanges of the trackrails by an arm 18 that is carried on a sleeve 19 that is fixed to theshaft 12 by suitable fastening devices such as set-screws 80. The arm 18carries a grooved wheel 82 that bears upon the cable 5| responsive toaction of a spring 83. The spring 83 has one end suitably attached tothe front of the carriage housing and the rear end is connected with theflexible cable 84 that extends around the front axle and connects withthe arm 1| as indicated at 85 (Figs. 1 and 5). It is thus obvious thatwhen the cable is intact and in taut condition the wheel 82 will holdthe brake cams out of engagement with the rail flanges against action ofthe spring, however, in case of failure or breakage of the cable, thespring 83 will become effective to cause rotation of the transverseshaft 12 and movement of the peripheries of the braking cams 15 and 16into clamping contact with the flanges of the track rails, therebypreventing accidental descent of the carriage.

The front of the carriage may be provided with a foot rest 86 forsupporting the feet of the passenger when the passenger is mounted onthe seat.

In installing an elevator mechanism constructed as described, the track1, including the channel-shaped rails 8 and 9, is positioned at one sideof the stairway preferably so that the rails bear upon the nose 6 of therespective treads 2 as shown in Fig. 1, after which the rail 8 issecured to the adjacent stair stringer by the fastening devices IT. Thecarriage, after being mounted on the track, is adjusted so that the legextensions 28 and 29 are in position to support the seat 19substantially horizontally as shown in Fig. 1. After adjustment thescrews 32 and 33 are tightened. The switch cams 63 and 54 are thenapplied in proper position on the web H of the track rail 9 so as tolimit upward and downward movement of the carriage at the ends of thetrack.

Assuming that the carriage is at the lower end of the track, the cable5| is substantially unwound from the winding drum 39 and the electricalcable I6 is withdrawn from the spring reel. A person desiring to beelevated to the upper level 4 mounts the seat l9 and moves thecontroller switch 56 to a position for rotating the motor in thedirection to effect lift of the carriage. When the motor 31 isenergized, the winding drum 5| will be operated to wind up the cablethereon and draw the carriage upwardly of the track. When the carriagereaches the upper end of the track, the roller 65 of the switch 69engages the cam 63 so as to open circuit to the motor and stop movementof the carriage. The carriage will remain in position at the upper endof the track because the low ratio of the speed reduction gearautomatically locks and prevents unwinding of the cable.

When it is desired to descend the stairs, the control lever is operatedin the opposite direction to reversely energize the motor to rotate thewinding drum in an opposite direction to pay out the cable and allowdescent of the carriage. When the carriage reaches the lower end of thetrack the roller 66 engages the cam 64 to open the switch 10, whereupondownward movement of the carriage is stopped.

When the cable is intact, the brake elements 5 and '56 are retained outof braking position, however, in case the cable 5| should break thespring 83 is immediately effective to draw the brake elements intoengagement with the rails of the track to prevent descent of thecarriage.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an elevator forinvalids and other in-- capacitated persons which is readily mounted ona stairway and which is of simple and inexpensive construction, safe inoperation and which is conveniently and safely operated.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevator comprising a self contained unit mechanism on thecarriage and connecting the motor with the winding drum, means forsupplying current to the motor, and a controller on the carriage forcontrolling the current supply.

2. An elevator comprising a self contained unit including a trackadapted for support on the treads of a stairway, a carriage movablealong a track, a Winding drum on the carriage, a cable having one endanchored to the upper end of the track and adapted to wind on said drumto lift the carriage and to unwind from the drum for lowering thecarriage on the track, a reversible motor on the carriage, a speedreduction mechanism on the carriage and connecting the motor with thewinding drum, means for supplying current to the motor, a controller onthe car riage for controlling the current supply, and brake means on thecarriage contacted with the cable and adapted to engage the track uponfailure of the cable.

3. An apparatus of the character described including a track adapted forsupport on a stairway, a carriage movable along a track, a winding drumon the carriage, a, cable having one end anchored to the upper end ofthe track and adapted to wind on said drum to lift the carrlage and tounwind from the drum for lowering the carriage on the track, areversible motor on the carriage, a speed reduction mechanism connectingthe motor with the winding drum, means for supplying current to themotor, a controller on the carriage for controlling the current supply,limit switches on the carriage, and means on the respective ends of thetrack for operating the limit switches to limit the extent of movementof the carriage on the track.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a track adapted forsupport on a stairway, a carriage movable along a track, a winding drumon the carriage, a cable having one end anchored to the upper end of thetrack and adapted to wind on said drum to lift the carriage and tounwind the drum for lowering the carriage on the track, a reversiblemotor on the carriage, a speed reduction mechanism connecting the motorwith the winding drum, means for supplying current to the motor, acontroller on the carriage for controlling the current supply, brakemeans on the carriage connected with the cable and adapted to engage thetrack upon failure of the cable, limit switches on the carriage, andmeans on the respective ends of the track for operating the limitswitches to limit the extent of movement of the carriage on the track.

5. An apparatus of the character described including an inclined track,a carriage, means supporting the carriage for movement on the track, awinding drum on the carriage, a reversible motor on the carriage, speedreduction mechanism connecting the motor with the winding drum, a cableconnected with the upper end of the track and adapted to be wound on thewinding drum, a brake shaft extending transversely of the carriage,braking means on th ends of the brake shaft engageable with the track, a

crank arm connected with the. brake shaft and having means engaging thecable to support the raking means out of ntact with t e a ls, and aspring connected with said arm and the frame to set the b ake m a ndental to slack in said cable.

6. An appa t o the ha a er scribed includin n in l n d ck a carr age oprab e on t track, a wind n drum on he ca r a e. a ab e xe w th re p c tot e t ack nd ad ted o nd the W n i dr s. a br k shaft ex in r n e Qf heca r e braki hee s eq eall o nted o th n s of; he brake af -and eeaeeabls w th he track, a cra k ar s n eted with h ra shaitl a he on dam nd enga n th able. to support the braking wheels out of contact withthe rails and a spring for retaining said wheel n he c a k. a m in on acwitht cabl and ada te o rq ts the rake sh cide t l to lu e o h cabl etthe r kin whee s. against the track to stop descent of the carriers,

An ar t of the charac r de crib d e d a t means adapted r support o astairway, a c a means, m ab e a on a track, a winding drum having fixedsupport on one Q s id m ns a able h n ens e d an chored to the other ofsaid means and adapted to i d on sai rum lift. t e c r ia d to unwindthe drum for lowering the carriage on the track, a reversible motorconnected with the winding drum, a flexible insulated cable forsupplying current to the motor means carried by the track for winding upand paying out of the insulated cable upon up and down movement of thecarriage means including means for connecting the cable with a source ofcurrent, a controller on the carriage means and connected with theinsulated cable and motor for controlling the current supply to themotor, and brake means on the carriage means normally engaging the firstnamed cable and adapted to engage the track upon failure of the cable.

8. An elevator comprising a self-contained unit including a trackadapted for support on the treads of a stairway, a carriage movablealong the track, a reversible motor on the carriage, a speed reductionmechanism on the carriage and connected with the motor, a drivingconnection between the speed reduction mechanism and the track, acontroller on the carriage, an electrical supply circuit connected withthe controller and motor, and limit switches on said unit and connectedwith said circuit for automatically stopping the carriage at therespective ends of the track, each of said limit switches having anoperating part and a trip part with one of said parts of the respectiveswitches being on the carriage and the other parts being respectively atthe upper and the lower end of the track and in position to be engagedby the parts on the carriage when the carriage reaches the respectiveends of the track.

9. An elevator comprising a self-contained unit including a trackadapted for support on the treads of a stairway, a carriage movablealong the track, a winding drum on the carriage, a cable connecting thecarriage with the upper end of the track and adapted to wind onsaid drumto lift the carriage and to unwind from the drum for lowering thecarriage on the track, a reversible motor on the carriage, a speedreduction mechanism on the carriage and connecting the motor with thewinding drum, a controller on the carriage, an electrical supply circuitcon- 7 nected with the controller and motor, and limit switches on saidunit and connected with said circuit for automatically stopping thecarriage at the respective ends of the track, each of said limitswitches having an operating part and a trip part with one of said partsof the respective switches being on the carriage and the other partsbeing respectively at the upper and the lower end of the track and inposition to be engaged by the parts on the carriage when the carriagereaches the respective ends of the track.

10. Elevator mechanism embodying therein an inclined runway includinglaterally spaced rails, a carriage having members for guided travellongitudinally of said rails, drum means journalled on said carriage,means on the carriage for driving the drum means in either direction,cable means operatively attached at one end to the'upper end of theinclined runway, and at its other end operatively disposed upon saiddrum means for a winding upon or an unwinding therefrom to take up or topay out said cable means.

11. Elevator mechanism embodying therein an inclined runway includinglaterally spaced rails, a carriage having members for guided travellongitudinally of said rails, drum means journalled on said carriage, areversible motor on the carriage for driving the drum means in eitherdirection, cable means operatively attached at one end to the upper endof the inclined runway, 30

and at its other end operatively disposed upon said drum means for awinding upon or an unwinding therefrom to take up or to pay out saidcable means, means for starting the motor and for causing it to run ineither direction.

12. Elevator mechanism embodying therein an inclined runway includinglaterally spaced rails, a carriage having members for guided travellongitudinally of said rails, drum means journalled on said carriage, areversible motor on the carriage for driving the drum means in eitherdirection, cable means operatively attached at one end to the upper endof the inclined runway, and at its other end operatively disposed uponsaid drum means for a winding upon or an unwinding therefrom to take upor to pay out said cable means, means for starting the motor and forcausing it to run in either direction, and means operative as thecarriage reaches the end of its travel in either direction on the runwayfor automatically stopping the motor.

GEORGE P. SCOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,043,834 Hinkel Nov. 12, 19121,178,505 Fak Apr. 11, 1916 2,472,943 Firestone June 14, 1949

